Method and apparatus for spectrum sensing

Abstract

In a non-limiting and exemplary embodiment, a method is provided for adapting a device set of one or more radio devices providing detection estimates for the presence of a primary radio resource user. A first detection estimate for the presence of the user is determined on the basis of spectrum sensing. At least one other detection estimate for the presence of the user is received from the device set. A detection value is generated on the basis of the first detection estimate and the at least one other detection estimate, and the device set is adapted on the basis of the detection value.

The invention claimed is:  
     
       1. A method, comprising:
 determining, by a first radio device of a device set of radio devices, a first detection estimate for a presence of a primary radio resource user based on spectrum sensing; 
 receiving, from a second radio device of the device set, at least one other detection estimate for the presence of the primary radio resource user; 
 generating a detection value based at least in part on the first detection estimate and the at least one other detection estimate; and 
 removing a radio device from the device set based on the detection value being higher than a first threshold value. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 generating, by the first radio device, a second detection estimate for the presence of the primary radio resource user; 
 receiving, from a third radio device of the device set, at least another detection estimate for the presence of the primary radio resource user; 
 generating another detection value based at least on the second detection estimate and the at least another detection estimate; and 
 adding a different radio device to the device set based on the another detection value being lower than a second threshold value different from the first threshold value. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the first threshold value and the second threshold value is based on a state of a radio channel which has been sensed. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the state of the radio channel is one of signal not expected and signal expected. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first detection estimate and the at least one other detection estimate comprises at least one quantized value. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one quantized value is based on one of an average power of a filtered waveform or a matched filter cyclic prefix detection. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a combined detection estimate is generated based on the first detection estimate and the at least one other detection estimate; 
 the combined detection estimate is compared to second and third threshold values; 
 a decision on radio resource usage is made based at least in part on the first detection estimate and the at least one other detection estimate, 
 a state is determined for the radio resource based on decision history; and 
 at least one threshold value is generated based on the state. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the detection value is an estimate for signal-to-noise ratio. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus, comprising:
 at least one processor; and 
 at least one memory including computer program code, 
 the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform: 
 determine a first detection estimate for a presence of a primary radio resource user based on spectrum sensing; 
 generate a detection value based at least in part on the first detection estimate and at least one other detection estimate for the presence of the primary radio resource user, wherein the at least one other detection estimate is received from a device set, wherein the device set is a set of one or more radio devices; and 
 remove a radio device from the device set based on the detection value being higher than a first threshold value. 
 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the computer code is further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform:
 add another radio device to the device set based on the detection value being lower than a second threshold value different from the first threshold value. 
 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the first threshold value and the second threshold value is based on a state of a radio channel which has been sensed. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the state of the radio channel is one of signal not expected and signal expected. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the first detection estimate and the at least one other detection estimate comprises at least one quantized value. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one quantized value is based on one of an average power of a filtered waveform or a matched filter cyclic prefix detection. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the computer code is configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform:
 generate a combined detection estimate based on the first detection estimate and the at least one other detection estimate; 
 compare the combined detection estimate to second and third threshold values; 
 decide on radio resource usage based on the first detection estimate and the at least one other detection estimate; 
 determine a state for the radio resource based on decision history; and 
 generate at least one threshold value based on the state. 
 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the detection value is an estimate for signal-to-noise ratio. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the computer code is configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to determine the first detection estimate by generating the first detection estimate based on radio measurements carried out by the apparatus or receiving the first detection estimate from a first device within the device set. 
     
     
       18. A non-transitory readable medium comprising one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors of an apparatus, cause the apparatus to:
 determine a first detection estimate for a presence of a primary radio resource user based on spectrum sensing; 
 generate a detection value based at least in part on the first detection estimate and at least one other detection estimate for the presence of the primary radio resource user, wherein the at least one other detection estimate is received from a device set, wherein the device set is a set of one or more radio devices; and 
 removing a radio device from the device set based on the detection value being higher than a threshold value.